(CNSNews.com) – Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight told CNSNews.com that conservative celebrities are criticized more than liberals in the media and called on more conservatives in Hollywood to “stand up right now” and speak out on health care and other political issues.

When asked about critics who say that celebrities should not talk about politics in the public square, Voight told CNSNews.com, “I think it’s probably only when it’s coming from the right. When the conservative people speak up they [critics] say things like that.”

Voight spoke with CNSNews.com at a Nov. 5 rally on Capitol Hill to protest the Democrats’ health care plan.

“No one says anything when the other fellows all over Hollywood say it,” Voight said. “When we’re talking about very left-wing, radical statements, they are always accepted. So, we have to have somebody on the other side. Maybe more than just one somebody. Maybe a lot of people should be standing up right now.”

Voight went on to say he is “putting his citizenship to work” as a political activist.

“We live in a country that guarantees free speech -- thank God for that,” said Voight. “Everybody’s allowed to say what they want to say. You know? And we just have to – everybody has that right and everybody has to be respected for that right. That’s what our guys are shedding their blood for across the world. They paid for that right for us. So anyway, so I’m just, you know, putting my citizenship to work.”

Voight continued, “We should be so grateful. I certainly am grateful to have been born in this country, my gosh. And some people take it for granted -- certainly if you live in the lap of luxury and you take for granted your freedoms and you don’t travel much and you don’t see other cultures and everybody’s taking care of you -- you know, it’s easy for you to go to sleep a little bit. But, I think people are starting to wake up.”

CNSNews.com also asked Voight if he has been criticized in Hollywood for his public stances on health care reform and other political issues.

“You know, people really don’t confront me, I must say,” Voight, the father of Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, told CNSNews.com. “They know where I stand. Listen, I’ll talk to anybody. People don’t want to get into it with me and I have a lot of friends out there too, wonderful friends.”

“So, I think that, little by little, we’re waking up across the country,” he said. “I wasn’t always in clear sight on what’s going on. As I grew, I had to change my thoughts about things, and I’m hoping that everybody’s waking up now as we see what’s happened and we see the evidence of what’s gone down, and we see the deception that’s taking place. I’m sure that more and more people are coming to the thought that we better step up and say a few things.”

Below is the transcript of the exchange between Voight and CNSNews.com:

CNSNews.com: “I want to ask you if you’ve been criticized at all in Hollywood for your stance on health care and other political issues.”

Jon Voight: “You know, people really don’t confront me, I must say. They know where I stand. Listen, I’ll talk to any body. People don’t want to get into it with me and I have a lot of friends out there too – wonderful friends. So, I think that little by little we’re waking up across the country. I wasn’t always in clear sight on what’s going on. As I grew, I had to change my thoughts about things, and I’m hoping that everybody’s waking up now as we see what’s happened and we see the evidence of what’s gone down, and we see the deception that’s taking place. I’m sure that more and more people are coming to the thought that we better step up and say a few things.”

CNSNews.com: “What do you say to critics who say, ‘Why are celebrities in the media voicing their opinion on politics?’ Why does any one want to talk to – ?”

Jon Voight: “Well, I think it’s [the criticism] probably only when it’s coming from the right. When the conservative people speak up they [critics] say things like that. No one says anything when the other fellows all over Hollywood say it. When we’re talking about very left-wing, radical statements, they are always accepted. So, we have to have somebody on the other side. Maybe more than just one somebody. Maybe a lot of people should be standing up right now.

“You know, obviously we live in a country, look, we live in a country that guarantees free speech. Thank God for that. Everybody’s allowed to say what they want to say. You know? And we just have to – everybody has that right and everybody has to be respected for that right. That’s what our guys are shedding their blood for across the world. They paid for that right for us. So, anyway, so I’m just, you know, putting my citizenship to work. Anyway – you know that. I don’t have to talk to you. You’re a smart fella’. We all know that that’s the way it is in this country.

“We’re so, we should be so grateful. I certainly am grateful to have been born in this country – my gosh. And some people take it for granted -- certainly if you live in the lap of luxury and you take for granted your freedoms and you don’t travel much and you don’t see other cultures and everybody’s taking care of you -- you know, it’s easy for you to go to sleep a little bit. But, I think people are starting to wake up.”